U.S. patent number 11,092,841 [Application Number 16/276,675] was granted by the patent office on 2021-08-17 for color filter and display apparatus including the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is Samsung Display Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Seungin Baek, Sujin Choi, Yunmo Chung, Mira Gwon, Younho Han, Gunshik Kim, Daewoo Lee, Junghwan Lee, Youngeun Park, Jungbae Song.
United States Patent |
11,092,841 |
Baek , et al. |
August 17, 2021 |
Color filter and display apparatus including the same
Abstract
A color filter includes a substrate including pixel areas and a
light-shielding area which is disposed between adjacent pixels
areas; and a color conversion layer which color-converts incident
light of an incident color and emits color-converted light toward
the substrate, the color conversion layer including a first color
conversion pattern in a first pixel area among the pixel areas and
with which the incident light of the incident color is converted
into light of a first color; and a second color conversion pattern
in a second pixel area among the pixel areas and with which the
incident light of the incident color is converted into light of a
second color; and a partition wall in the light-shielding area and
between the first color conversion pattern and the second color
conversion pattern, the partition wall including a light-scattering
material which scatters light incident thereto.
Inventors: |
Baek; Seungin (Yongin-si,
KR), Gwon; Mira (Yongin-si, KR), Kim;
Gunshik (Yongin-si, KR), Park; Youngeun
(Yongin-si, KR), Lee; Junghwan (Yongin-si,
KR), Chung; Yunmo (Yongin-si, KR), Choi;
Sujin (Yongin-si, KR), Han; Younho (Yongin-si,
KR), Song; Jungbae (Yongin-si, KR), Lee;
Daewoo (Yongin-si, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Display Co., Ltd. |
Yongin-si |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
(Gyeonggi-Do, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
69772904 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/276,675 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200089047 A1 |
Mar 19, 2020 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Sep 14, 2018 [KR] |
|
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10-2018-0110456 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F
1/133516 (20130101); H01L 51/5281 (20130101); G02F
1/133504 (20130101); G02F 1/133512 (20130101); G02F
1/133617 (20130101); H01L 51/5268 (20130101); H01L
51/56 (20130101); G02F 1/1336 (20130101); H01L
27/322 (20130101); G02F 1/01791 (20210101); H01L
33/50 (20130101); H01L 51/5284 (20130101); H01L
2251/5369 (20130101); H01L 33/507 (20130101); G02F
2/02 (20130101); G02F 1/017 (20130101); H05B
33/145 (20130101); G02F 1/133514 (20130101); G02F
1/133357 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02F
1/1335 (20060101); G02F 1/13357 (20060101); H05B
33/14 (20060101); G02F 2/02 (20060101); H01L
27/32 (20060101); G02F 1/017 (20060101); H01L
33/50 (20100101); G02F 1/1333 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1020170003297 |
|
Jan 2017 |
|
KR |
|
1020170099011 |
|
Aug 2017 |
|
KR |
|
1020180018945 |
|
Feb 2018 |
|
KR |
|
1020180025388 |
|
Mar 2018 |
|
KR |
|
1020180046494 |
|
May 2018 |
|
KR |
|
Primary Examiner: Caley; Michael H
Assistant Examiner: Jung; Jonathan Y
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cantor Colburn LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A color filter comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of
pixel areas and a light-shielding area which is disposed between
adjacent pixel areas among the plurality of pixel areas; a color
conversion layer which converts incident light of an incident color
and emits color-converted light toward the substrate, the color
conversion layer comprising: a first color conversion pattern in a
first pixel area among the plurality of pixel areas and with which
the incident light of the incident color is converted into light of
a first color; and a second color conversion pattern in a second
pixel area among the plurality of pixel areas and with which the
incident light of the incident color is converted into light of a
second color; and a partition wall in the light-shielding area and
between the first color conversion pattern and the second color
conversion pattern, wherein the partition wall extends from between
the first color conversion pattern and the second color conversion
pattern and away from the substrate and comprises a
light-scattering material which scatters light incident
thereto.
2. The color filter of claim 1, wherein within the color conversion
layer: the first color conversion pattern comprises first quantum
dots which are excited by the incident light of the incident color
and emit the light of the first color, and the second color
conversion pattern comprises second quantum dots which are excited
by the incident light of the incident color and emit the light of
the second color.
3. The color filter of claim 1, further comprising: a
light-shielding layer between the substrate and the partition wall,
the light-shielding layer corresponding to the light-shielding area
of the substrate; and a color filter layer between the substrate
and the color conversion layer, the color filter layer comprising:
a first color filter pattern which corresponds to the first color
conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the first
color emitted from the first color conversion pattern; and a second
color filter pattern which corresponds to the second color
conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the
second color emitted from the second color conversion pattern.
4. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the color conversion layer
further comprises a transmission layer in a third pixel area spaced
apart from the first pixel area and the second pixel area from
among the plurality of pixel areas and through which the incident
light of the incident color is transmitted.
5. The color filter of claim 4, wherein the partition wall is
between the transmission layer and the first color conversion
pattern and between the transmission layer and the second color
conversion pattern.
6. The color filter of claim 4, further comprising: a
light-shielding layer between the substrate and the partition wall,
the light-shielding layer corresponding to the light-shielding area
of the substrate; a color filter layer between the substrate and
the color conversion layer, the color filter layer comprising: a
first color filter pattern which corresponds to the first color
conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the first
color emitted from the first color conversion pattern; a second
color filter pattern which corresponds to the second color
conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the
second color emitted from the second color conversion pattern; and
a third color filter pattern which corresponds to the transmission
layer and transmits the incident light of the incident color
emitted from the transmission layer.
7. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the incident color of the
incident light is a third color having a wavelength shorter than
each of a wavelength of the light of the first color and a
wavelength of the light of the second color.
8. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the incident light is blue
light, and the first color and the second color are respectively
red and green.
9. The color filter of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the
partition wall is equal to or greater than each of a thickness of
the first color conversion pattern and a thickness of the second
color conversion pattern.
10. A display apparatus comprising: a display panel comprising a
plurality of pixels from which incident light of an incident color
is emitted; and a color filter in which the incident light of the
incident color emitted from the display panel is color-converted
and from which color-converted light is emitted, the color filter
comprising: a first substrate comprising a plurality of pixel areas
respectively corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the
display panel and a light-shielding area which is disposed between
adjacent pixel areas; a color conversion layer which converts the
incident light of the incident color and emits the color-converted
light, the color conversion layer comprising: a first color
conversion pattern in a first pixel area among the plurality of
pixel areas and with which the incident light of the incident color
is converted into light of a first color; and a second color
conversion pattern in a second pixel area of the plurality of pixel
areas and with which the incident light of the incident color is
converted into light of a second color; a first partition wall in
the light-shielding area and between the first color conversion
pattern and the second color conversion pattern, the first
partition wall comprising a light-scattering material which
scatters light incident thereto; and a second partition wall
between the display panel from which the incident light of the
incident color is emitted and the color filter, the second
partition wall corresponding to the first partition wall which
includes the light-scattering material.
11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein within the color
filter, a thickness of the first partition wall is equal to or
greater than each of a thickness of the first color conversion
pattern and a thickness of the second color conversion pattern.
12. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display panel
comprises: a second substrate on which the plurality of pixels are
arranged; and a thin-film encapsulation layer on the second
substrate.
13. The display apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a
planarizing layer between the thin-film encapsulation layer of the
display panel and the color filter.
14. The display apparatus of claim 13, wherein a thickness of the
first partition wall of the color filter is equal to or less than
each of: a sum of a thickness of the first color conversion pattern
and a thickness of the planarizing layer, and a sum of a thickness
of the second color conversion pattern and the thickness of the
planarizing layer.
15. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second partition
wall is between the thin-film encapsulation layer of the display
panel and the color filter.
16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first partition
wall of the color filter and the second partition wall between the
thin-film encapsulation layer and the color filter contact each
other.
17. A display apparatus comprising: a display panel comprising: a
plurality of pixels from which incident light of an incident color
is emitted; a first substrate on which the plurality of pixels are
arranged; and a thin-film encapsulation layer on the first
substrate; and a color filter in which the incident light of the
incident color emitted from the display panel is color-converted
and from which color-converted light is emitted, the color filter
comprising: a second substrate comprising: a plurality of pixel
areas respectively corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the
display panel, and a light-shielding area which is disposed between
adjacent pixel areas respectively corresponding to adjacent pixels
of the display panel; and a color conversion layer comprising a
plurality of color conversion patterns respectively in the
plurality of pixel areas, wherein the color conversion layer
converts the incident light of the incident color and emits the
color-converted light toward the second substrate, and a light
blocking member corresponding to the light shielding area of the
color filter, the light blocking member comprising: a
light-shielding layer and a first partition wall within the color
filter, the first partition wall disposed between adjacent color
conversion patterns, and a second partition wall between the
thin-film encapsulation layer of the display panel and the color
filter, wherein each of the first partition wall and the second
partition wall are spaced apart from the light-shielding layer
along a direction from the display panel to the color filter.
18. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first partition
comprise a light-scattering material.
19. The display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first partition
wall protrudes further than each of the adjacent color conversion
patterns and a height of the first partition wall from a surface of
the second substrate is higher than those of the adjacent color
conversion patterns from the surface of the second substrate.
20. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first partition
wall and the second partition wall contact each other.
Description
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.
10-2018-0110456, filed on Sep. 14, 2018, and all the benefits
accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
One or more embodiments relate to a color filter and a display
apparatus including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus uses a color filter to
form a color image. The LCD apparatus has low light efficiency
since the amount of white light emitted from a backlight source is
reduced to about 1/3 after the white light passes through red,
green, and blue color filters.
SUMMARY
One or more embodiments include a display apparatus having improved
color reproducibility and improved light efficiency.
Additional features will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.
According to one or more embodiments, a color filter includes: a
substrate from which light is emitted from the color filter, the
substrate including a plurality of pixel areas and a
light-shielding area which is disposed between adjacent pixels
areas among the plurality of pixel areas; a color conversion layer
which color-converts incident light of an incident color and emits
color-converted light toward the substrate, the color conversion
layer including: a first color conversion pattern in a first pixel
area among the plurality of pixel areas and with which the incident
light of the incident color is converted into light of a first
color; and a second color conversion pattern in a second pixel area
among the plurality of pixel areas and with which the incident
light of the incident color is converted into light of a second
color; and a partition wall in the light-shielding area and between
the first color conversion pattern and the second color conversion
pattern, the partition wall including a light-scattering material
which scatters light incident thereto.
The first color conversion pattern may include first quantum dots
which are excited by the incident light and emit the light of the
first color, and the second color conversion pattern may include
second quantum dots which are excited by the incident light and
emit the light of the second color.
The color filter may further include: a light-shielding layer
between the substrate and the partition wall; a first color filter
pattern which is between the substrate and the first color
conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the first
color emitted from the first color conversion pattern; and a second
color filter pattern which is between the substrate and the second
color conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the
second color emitted from the second color conversion pattern.
The color filter may further include a transmission layer which is
in a third pixel area spaced apart from the first pixel area and
the second pixel area from among the plurality of pixel areas and
transmits the incident light.
The partition wall may be between the transmission layer and the
first color conversion pattern and between the transmission layer
and the second color conversion pattern.
The color filter may further include: a light-shielding layer
between the substrate and the partition wall; a first color filter
pattern which is between the substrate and the first color
conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the first
color emitted from the first color conversion pattern; a second
color filter pattern which is between the substrate and the second
color conversion pattern and selectively transmits the light of the
second color emitted from the second color conversion pattern; and
a third color filter layer which is between the substrate and the
transmission layer and selectively transmits the incident light
emitted from the transmission layer.
The incident light may be light of a third color having a
wavelength shorter than a wavelength of each of the light of the
first color and the light of the second color.
The incident light may be blue light, and the first color and the
second color may be respectively red and green.
A thickness of the partition wall may be equal to or greater than a
thickness of each of the first and second color conversion
patterns.
According to one or more embodiments, a display apparatus includes:
a display panel at which incident light of an incident color is
emitted from the display panel; and a color filter in which the
incident light of the incident color emitted from the display panel
is color-converted and from which color-converted light is emitted,
the color filter including: a first substrate from which the
color-converted light is emitted from the color filter, the first
substrate including a plurality of pixel areas respectively
corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the display panel and a
light-shielding area which is disposed between adjacent pixel
areas; a color conversion layer which color-converts the incident
light of the incident color and emits the color-converted light,
the color conversion layer including: a first color conversion
pattern in a first pixel area among the plurality of pixel areas
and with which the incident light of the incident color is
converted into light of a first color; and a second color
conversion pattern in a second pixel area of the plurality of pixel
areas and with which the incident light of the incident color is
converted into light of a second color; and a first partition wall
in the light-shielding area and between the first color conversion
pattern and the second color conversion pattern, the first
partition wall including a light-scattering material which scatters
light incident thereto.
A thickness of the first partition wall may be equal to or greater
than a thickness of each of the first and second color conversion
patterns.
The display panel may include: a second substrate on which the
plurality of pixels are arranged; and a thin-film encapsulation
layer on the second substrate.
The display apparatus may further include a planarizing layer
between the thin-film encapsulation layer and the color filter.
A thickness of the first partition wall may be equal to or less
than a sum of a thickness of each of the first and second color
conversion patterns, and a thickness of the planarizing layer,
respectively.
The display apparatus may further include a second partition wall
on the thin-film encapsulation layer to correspond to the
light-shielding area.
The first partition wall and the second partition wall may contact
each other.
According to one or more embodiments, a display apparatus includes:
a display panel including a plurality of pixels at which incident
light of an incident color is emitted from the display panel; a
first substrate on which the plurality of pixels are arranged; and
a thin-film encapsulation layer on the first substrate; and a color
filter in which the incident light of the incident color emitted
from the display panel is color-converted and from which
color-converted light is emitted, the color filter including: a
second substrate from which the color-converted light is emitted
from the color filter, the second substrate including: a plurality
of pixel areas respectively corresponding to the plurality of
pixels of the display panel, and a light-shielding area which is
disposed between adjacent pixel areas respectively corresponding to
adjacent pixels of the display panel; and a color conversion layer
including a plurality of color conversion patterns respectively in
the plurality of pixel areas; and a light blocking member
corresponding to the light shielding area of the color filter, a
portion of the light blocking member disposed closer to the display
panel than the color conversion layer of the color filter.
The light blocking member corresponding to the light shielding area
of the color filter is disposed within the color filter as a first
partition wall between adjacent color conversion patterns and
including a light-scattering material, and the first partition wall
protrudes further than each of the adjacent color conversion
patterns to dispose a portion of the first partition wall closer to
the display panel than the adjacent color conversion patterns.
The light blocking member corresponding to the light shielding area
of the color filter is disposed outside of the color filter as a
second partition wall protruding from the thin-film encapsulation
layer and toward the color filter, and the second partition wall is
disposed closer to the display panel than the plurality of color
conversion patterns.
The light blocking member corresponding to the light shielding area
of the color filter includes: a first partition wall within the
color filter, the first partition wall disposed between adjacent
color conversion patterns and including a light-scattering
material, and a second partition wall outside the color filter, the
second partition wall protruding from the thin-film encapsulation
layer and toward the color filter, and the first partition wall and
the second partition wall contact each other in the light-shielding
area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other features will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a color filter
according to the invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged cross-sectional views of respective
embodiments of the color filter of FIG. 1 taken along line
11-11';
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an
embodiment of first and second color conversion layers and a
transmission layer of a color filter according to the
invention;
FIGS. 5A through 5D are cross-sectional views for describing an
embodiment of a process of manufacturing a color filter according
to the invention; and
FIGS. 6 through 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating
respective embodiments display apparatuses according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure may include various embodiments and
modifications, and embodiments thereof will be illustrated in the
drawings and will be described herein in detail. The advantages and
features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the
advantages and features will be described more fully with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments are shown. The
present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different
forms and should not be construed as being limited to the
embodiments set forth herein.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of
which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Parts in the
drawings unrelated to the detailed description are omitted to
ensure clarity of the present disclosure. In the drawings, the same
elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a repeated
explanation thereof will not be given.
It will be understood that when a layer, region, or element is
referred to as being related to another element such as being "on"
another layer, region, or element, it may be directly on the other
layer, region, or element, or intervening layers, regions, or
elements may be present. In contrast, when a layer, region, or
element is referred to as being related to another element such as
being "directly on" another layer, region, or element, no
intervening layers, regions, or elements are present.
Sizes of elements may be exaggerated for convenience of
explanation. In other words, since sizes and thicknesses of
elements in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for
convenience of explanation, the following embodiments are not
limited thereto.
It will be understood that when a layer, region, or element is
referred to as being related to another element such as being
"connected" the layer, region, or element may be directly connected
or may be indirectly connected with intervening layers, regions, or
elements therebetween. For example, when a layer, region, or
element is electrically connected, the layer, region, or element
may be directly electrically connected or may be indirectly
electrically connected with intervening layers, regions, or
elements therebetween.
When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a
specific process order may be different from the described order.
For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed
substantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to
the described order
It will be understood that although the terms "first," "second,"
etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these
components should not be limited by these terms. These components
are only used to distinguish one component from another.
As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an, and "the" are intended
to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. Throughout the specification, when a portion
"includes" or "comprises" an element, another element may be
further included, rather than excluding the existence of the other
element, unless otherwise described.
As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations
of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as
"at least one" when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire
list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the
list.
Furthermore, relative terms, such as "lower" or "bottom" and
"upper" or "top," may be used herein to describe one element's
relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It
will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation
depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the
figures is turned over, elements described as being on the "lower"
side of other elements would then be oriented on "upper" sides of
the other elements. The exemplary term "lower," can therefore,
encompasses both an orientation of "lower" and "upper," depending
on the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the
device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as
"below" or "beneath" other elements would then be oriented "above"
the other elements. The exemplary terms "below" or "beneath" can,
therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.
"About" or "approximately" as used herein is inclusive of the
stated value and means within an acceptable range of deviation for
the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the
art, considering the measurement in question and the error
associated with measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the
limitations of the measurement system). For example, "about" can
mean within one or more standard deviations, or within .+-.30%,
20%, 10% or 5% of the stated value.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present
disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to cross
section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized
embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the
illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques
and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described
herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes
of regions as illustrated herein but are to include deviations in
shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a
region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough
and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are
illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the
figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended
to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to
limit the scope of the present claims.
Since a liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus in which a color
filter is used has relatively low light efficiency and color
reproducibility, a photo-luminescent LCD ("PL-LCD") apparatus is
proposed which uses a quantum dot color conversion layer
("QD-CCL"). The PL-LCD apparatus displays a color image by using
visible light in a relatively low wavelength band such as
ultraviolet (UV) light or blue light which are generated by a light
source and controlled by a liquid crystal layer, to be emitted to a
CCL.
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a color filter 100
according to the invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged
cross-sectional views of respective embodiments of the color filter
100 taken along line II-II' of FIG. 1.
The color filter 100 may include a substrate 110, a first partition
wall 140, a first color conversion layer 150, and a second color
conversion layer 160. The substrate 110 may comprise pixel areas
and a light-shielding area between adjacent pixel areas. The first
partition wall 140 may be in the light-shielding area and may
comprise a material that scatters and/or reflects a light. The
first color conversion layer 150 and the second color conversion
layer 160 may be in the pixel areas.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the color filter 100 may include a
substrate 110, a light-shielding layer 120, a color filter layer
130, a first partition wall 140, a first color conversion layer
150, and a second color conversion layer 160.
The color filter 100 and components thereof may be disposed or
arranged in a plane defined by first and second directions which
cross each other. In FIG. 1, for example, the horizontal direction
may be one of the first and second directions while the vertical
direction is the other one of the first and second directions. A
thickness of the color filter 100 and components thereof may extend
along a third direction which crosses each of the first and second
directions. In FIG. 1, for example, a thickness of the color filter
100 extends into the page view. For FIGS. 2 and 3, a vertical
direction represents a thickness of the color filter 100 and layers
thereof while a horizontal direction represents one of the first
and second directions. A direction into the page view of FIGS. 2
and 3 represents the other one of the first and second
directions.
The substrate 110 may include or define a first pixel area PA1 and
a second pixel area PA2 that are spaced apart from each other, and
a light-shielding area BA located between the first and second
pixel areas PA1 and PA2. The first color conversion layer 150 is
located in (e.g., corresponds to) the first pixel area PA1 and
converts incident light Lib into light Lr of a first color. The
second color conversion layer 160 may be located in (e.g.,
corresponds to) the second pixel area PA2 and may convert the
incident light Lib into light Lg of a second color.
The color filter 100 may further include a transmission layer 170.
The substrate 110 may further include a third pixel area PA3 spaced
apart from the first and second pixel areas PA1 and PA2. The
transmission layer 170 may be located in (e.g., corresponds to) the
third pixel area PA3 and may transmit the incident light Lib as
light Lb of a third color.
The color filter 100 may receive the incident light Lib and may
emit the light Lr of the first color, the light Lg of the second
color, and the light Lb of the third color. The incident light Lib
may be incident to the color filter 100 through the first color
conversion layer 150, the second color conversion layer 160 and the
transmission layer 170. That is, these various layers form a light
incident surface of the color filter 100.
Referring to FIG. 1, a pixel area PA and the light-shielding area
BA are defined in the color filter 100. The pixel area PA at which
light is emitted is surrounded by the light-shielding area BA. The
pixel area PA may be divided into the first pixel area PA1, the
second pixel area PA2, and a third pixel area PA3 according to a
color of emitted light. In an embodiment, for example, the first
pixel area PA1 is an area where the light Lr of the first color is
emitted, the second pixel area PA2 is an area where the light Lg of
the second color is emitted, and the third pixel area PA3 is an
area where the light Lb of the third color is emitted. An
arrangement of the first through third pixel areas PA1, PA2, and
PA3 of FIG. 1 is an example, and the present disclosure is not
limited thereto. The first through third pixel areas PA1, PA2, and
PA3 may be arranged in any of various forms to correspond to an
arrangement of pixels of a display apparatus in which the color
filter 100 is disposed.
The light Lr of the first color may be red light, the light Lg of
the second color may be green light, and the light Lb of the third
color may be blue light. The red light is light having a peak
wavelength equal to or greater than about 580 nanometers (nm) and
less than about 750 nm. The green light is light having a peak
wavelength equal to or greater than about 495 nm and less than
about 580 nm. The blue light is light equal to or greater than
about 400 nm and less than about 495 nm. The incident light Lib may
be light of the third color.
The light-shielding area BA, where light is not emitted, may be
arranged in a mesh pattern among the first through third pixel
areas PA1, PA2, and PA3.
The substrate 110 is a transparent substrate through which the
light Lr of the first color and the light Lg of the second color
respectively emitted from the first and second color conversion
layers 150 and 160 may be emitted through the first and second
pixel areas PA1 and PA2. The light Lb of the third color may be
emitted through the third pixel area PA3 of the substrate 110. That
is, the substrate 110 forms a light-emitting surface of the color
filter 100.
The substrate 110 may be any of typically used substrates, but may
include or be formed of, for example, an insulating material such
as glass, plastic, or crystal. The substrate 110 may include be
formed of an organic polymer material such as polycarbonate ("PC"),
polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"), polyethylene ("PE"),
polypropylene ("PP"), polysulfone ("PSF"), polymethylmethacrylate
("PMMA"), triacetyl cellulose ("TAC"), cyclic olefin polymer
("COP"), or cyclic olefin copolymer ("COC"). A material of the
substrate 110 may be selected considering mechanical strength,
thermal stability, transparency, surface smoothness, ease of
handling, and water resistance of the color filter 100 and the
substrate 110 therefor.
The light-shielding layer 120 may be located in the light-shielding
area BA. The light-shielding layer 120 may be formed as a
relatively thin film in the light-shielding area BA. When light is
emitted through the light-shielding area BA, light leakage may
occur in the display apparatus. In one or more embodiment, the
light-shielding layer 120 may reduce or effectively prevent light
from leaking outward through the light-shielding area BA.
The light-shielding layer 120 may have of any of various colors
including black or white. When the light-shielding layer 120 is
black, the light-shielding layer 120 may include a black matrix.
When the light-shielding layer 120 is white, the light-shielding
layer 120 may include an organic insulating material such as white
resin. The light-shielding layer 120 may include an opaque
inorganic insulating material such as CrOx or MoOx or an opaque
organic insulating material such as black resin.
The color filter layer 130 may be an organic material pattern
including a dye or a pigment. The color filter layer 130 may
include a first color filter layer (or pattern) 130a, a second
color filter layer (or pattern) 130b, and a third color filter
layer (or pattern) 130c. The first color filter layer 130a may be
located in at least the first pixel area PA1, the second color
filter layer 130b may be located in at least the second pixel area
PA2, and the third color filter layer 130c may be located in at
least the third pixel area PA3. The first color filter layer 130a
may selectively transmit only light of the first color, the second
color filter layer 130b may selectively transmit only light of the
second color, and the third color filter layer 130c may selectively
transmit only light of the third color. As such, these color filter
layers may selectively block light except for the selectively
transmitted color light.
The first partition wall 140 may be located in the light-shielding
area BA and may be extended along the first color conversion layer
150, the second color conversion layer 160, and the transmission
layer 170. The first partition wall 140 may include portions
lengthwise extending along the first and/or second directions among
the various conversion and transmission layers. The first partition
wall 140 may overlap the light-shielding layer 120.
A height (thickness) T1 of the first partition wall 140, that is, a
distance between a top surface of the color filter layer 130 and a
top surface of the first partition wall 140, may be equal to or
greater than a height (thickness) T1' of each of the first color
conversion layer 150, the second color conversion layer 160, and
the transmission layer 170. The thicknesses T1 and T1' may be a
maximum dimension of the various wall and component, taken from a
common reference surface, such as the top surface of the color
filter layer 130. The first partition wall 140 may contact side
surfaces of the first color conversion layer 150, the second color
conversion layer 160, and the transmission layer 170 which are
respectively adjacent to the first partition wall 140 so as to form
an interface therebetween. The first partition wall 140 may absorb
light at the interface respectively formed by contact thereof with
the first color conversion layer 150, the second color conversion
layer 160, and the transmission layer 170. For components, layers
or elements shown in the drawings or described within this
disclosure as contacting each other, an interface may be formed
therebetween.
The first partition wall 140 may include a material that scatters
and/or reflects the light Lr, Lg, and Lb of the first through third
colors. The first partition wall 140 may scatter and/or reflect
light incident from the first and second color conversion layers
140 and 150 and the transmission layer 170. Accordingly, the first
partition wall 140 that scatters and/or reflects the light Lr, Lg,
and Lb may reduce light loss caused by light absorption, as
compared to a partition wall including a light-absorbing
material.
The first partition wall 140 may reduce or effectively prevent each
of the light Lr of the first color emitted from the first color
conversion layer 150 from being emitted to the second color
conversion layer 160 or the transmission layer 170, the light Lg of
the second color emitted from the second color conversion layer 160
from being emitted to the first color conversion layer 150 or the
transmission layer 170, and the light Lb of the third color emitted
from the transmission layer 170 from being emitted to the first
color conversion layer 150 or the second color conversion layer
160.
In an embodiment, for example, more than half (e.g., most) of the
light Lr of the first color emitted from the first color conversion
layer 150 and scattered and/or reflected by the first partition
wall 140 may be incident back to the first color conversion layer
150. Even when a portion of the light Lr of the first color
reflected by the first partition wall 140 is incident on the second
color conversion layer 160 and/or the transmission layer 170, if
more than half of the light Lr of the first color scattered and/or
reflected by the first partition wall 140 is incident back in the
first color conversion layer 150, this is considered to be included
in the scope of the present embodiment. Similarly, most, for
example, more than half, of the light Lg of the second color
emitted from the second color conversion layer 160 and scattered
and/or reflected by the first partition wall 140 may be incident
back on the second color conversion layer 160. Likewise, even when
a portion of the light Lg of the second color reflected by the
first partition wall 140 is incident on the first color conversion
layer 150 and/or the transmission layer 170, if more than half of
the light Lg of the second color scattered and/or reflected by the
first partition wall 140 is incident back on the second color
conversion layer 160, this is considered to be included in the
scope of the present embodiment.
In an embodiment of manufacturing a color filter, each of the first
color conversion layer 150, the second color conversion layer 160,
and the transmission layer 170 may be formed by using an inkjet
method in a concave space defined by the first partition wall
140.
The first color conversion layer 150 is located in the first pixel
area PA1 to overlap the first color filter layer 130a, converts the
incident light Lib into the light Lr of the first color and emits
the converted light Lr of the first color toward the substrate 110.
The first color conversion layer 150 may include a material such as
first quantum dots that are excited by the incident light Lib and
emit the converted light Lr of the first color having a wavelength
longer than a wavelength of the incident light Lib.
The second color conversion layer 160 is located in the second
pixel area PA2 to overlap the second color filter layer 130b,
converts the incident light Lib into the light Lg of the second
color and emits the converted Lg of the second color toward the
substrate 110. The second color conversion layer 160 may include a
material such as second quantum dots that are excited by the
incident light Lib and emit light the converted light Lg of the
second color having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the
incident light Lib.
The transmission layer 170 is located in the third pixel area PA3
to overlap the third color filter layer 130c, transmits the light
Lb of the third color and emits the light Lb of the third color
toward the substrate 110. The transmission layer 170 may not
color-convert the incident light Lib such that the emitted light Lb
is essentially the incident light Lib.
In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the color filter 100 may
further include a planarization layer 190 that is commonly located
on the first and second color conversion layers 150 and 160 and the
transmission layer 170 and has a flat top surface. The
planarization layer 190 may be located on the substrate 110 to
cover the first and second color conversion layers 150 and 160 and
the transmission layer 170. That is, the planarization layer 190
forms a light incident surface of the color filter 100. The
planarization layer 190 may be transparent so that the incident
light Lib is transmitted therethrough without color conversion and
subsequently emitted to be incident to the first and second color
conversion layers 150 and 160 and the transmission layer 170.
The planarization layer 190 may include or be formed of a
transparent organic material such as polyimide resin, acrylic
resin, or a resist material. In an embodiment of manufacturing a
color filter, the planarization layer 190 may be formed by using a
wet process such as slit coating or spin coating or a dry process
such as chemical vapor deposition or vacuum deposition. The present
embodiment is not limited to the above materials and the above
forming methods. It would be understood that the planarization
layer 190 may be omitted as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an
embodiment of the first and second color conversion layers 150 and
160 and the transmission layer 170 of the color filter 100
according to the invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, the first color conversion layer 150 converts
the incident light Lib, which is blue incident light, into the
light Lr of the first color. The first color conversion layer 150
may include a first photosensitive polymer (base) 151 in which a
first quantum dot 152 provided in plurality and a first scattering
particle 153 provided in plurality are dispersed.
The first quantum dots 152 may be excited by the incident light Lib
and may isotropically emit the light Lr of the first color having a
wavelength longer than a wavelength of blue light. The first
photosensitive polymer 151 may be an organic material having
light-transmitting properties. The first scattering particles 153
may excite more first quantum dots 152 by scattering the incident
light Lib that is not absorbed by the first quantum dots 152,
thereby increasing a color conversion rate of the first color
conversion layer 150. The first scattering particles 153 may
include, for example, a material such as titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2)
or metal particles. The first quantum dots 152 may include a group
II-VI compound, a group III-V compound, a group IV-VI compound, a
group IV compound, or a combination thereof.
The second color conversion layer 160 converts the incident light
Lib into the light Lg of the second color. The second color
conversion layer 160 may include a second photosensitive polymer
(base) 161 in which a second quantum dot 162 provided in plurality
and a second scattering particle 163 provided in plurality are
dispersed.
The second quantum dots 162 may be excited by the incident light
Lib and may isotropically emit the light Lg of the second color
having a wavelength longer than a wavelength of blue light. The
second photosensitive polymer 161 that is an organic material
having light-transmitting properties may be the same material as
the first photosensitive polymer 151. The second scattering
particles 163 excite more second quantum dots 162 by scattering the
incident light Lib that is not absorbed by the second quantum dots
162, thereby increasing a color conversion rate of the second color
conversion layer 160. The second scattering particles 163 may
include, for example, titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2) or metal
particles, and may be the same material as the first scattering
particles 153. The second quantum dots 162 may include a group
II-VI compound, a group III-V compound, a group IV-VI compound, a
group IV compound, or a combination thereof. The second quantum
dots 162 may be the same material as the first quantum dots 152,
and in this case, sizes of the second quantum dots 162 may be less
than sizes of the first quantum dots 152.
The transmission layer 170 may transmit the incident light Lib
without color conversion thereof and may emit the incident light
Lib toward the substrate 110. The transmission layer 170 may
include a third photosensitive polymer (base) 171 in which third
scattering particles 173 are dispersed. The third photosensitive
polymer 171 may be an organic material having light-transmitting
properties such as silicon resin or epoxy resin, and may be the
same as the first and second photosensitive polymers 151 and 161.
The third scattering particles 173 may scatter and emit the
incident light Lib, and may be the same as the first and second
scattering particles 153 and 163.
FIGS. 5A through 5D are cross-sectional views for describing an
embodiment of a process of manufacturing the color filter 100
according to the invention.
Referring to FIG. 5A, the light-shielding layer 120 may be formed
in the light-shielding area BA on the substrate 110. The
light-shielding layer 120 may be formed by spraying organic ink, or
may be formed by patterning a metal layer through a
photolithographic process. Accordingly, an opening OP may be formed
in the light-shielding layer 120. The opening OP exposes a top
surface of the substrate 110. The light-shielding layer 120 may
define a plurality of the opening OP along the top surface of the
substrate 110.
Referring to FIG. 5B, the color filter layer 130 may be formed on
the substrate 110 having the light-shielding layer 120 thereon.
Portions or patterns of the color filter layer 130 may be formed in
a respective opening OP of the light-shielding layer 120.
The overall color filter layer 130 may be formed by repeatedly
performing a process of coating a color photoresist material on the
substrate 110 and performing selective patterning. In an
embodiment, for example, the first color filter layer 130a may be
formed by coating and etching a first color photoresist material,
the second color filter layer 130b may be formed by coating and
etching a second color photoresist material, and the third color
filter layer 130c may be formed by coating and etching a third
color photoresist material. An order of forming the first through
third color filter layers 130a through 130c is not limited
thereto.
Each color photoresist material may include a photopolymerizable
photosensitive material such as a photopolymerization initiator, a
monomer or a binder, and an organic pigment for expressing color.
The first color filter layer 130a, the second color filter layer
130b, and the third color filter layer 130c may be formed as, for
example, a stripe type or a mosaic type in the top plan view,
according to an arrangement method. The color filter layer 130 may
extend from the opening OP to be disposed on a top surface of a
respective portion of the light-shielding layer 120. Top surfaces
of the patterns within the color filter layer 130 may be coplanar
with each other without being limited thereto.
Although the overall color filter layer 130 has a minimum height
(thickness) that is greater than a maximum height (thickness) of
the light-shielding layer 120 in FIG. 5B, the present embodiment is
not limited thereto, and, for example, the color filter layer 130
may be formed to have a height (thickness) that is equal to or less
than a height (thickness) of the light-shielding layer 120. The
heights and thicknesses may be referenced from a common surface,
such as the top surface of the substrate 110 and a virtual
extension of the top surface thereof.
Referring to FIG. 5C, the first partition wall 140 may be formed in
the light-shielding area BA on the substrate 110 having the color
filter layer 130 thereon. The first partition wall 140 may be
formed by coating a first partition wall-forming material on the
substrate 110 and performing patterning of the first partition
wall-forming material. The first partition wall 140 may be formed
of a material for scattering and/or reflecting the light Lr of the
first color, the light Lg of the second color, and the light Lb of
the third color. The first partition wall 140 may have a single or
multi-layer structure. A height (thickness) of the first partition
wall 140 and the density of a scattering material and/or a
reflective material may vary according to an applied electronic
apparatus in which the color filter 100 is disposed.
The first partition wall 140 defines spaces between portions
thereof. An upper surface of the color filter layer 130 is exposed
at the spaces.
Referring to FIG. 5D, the first color conversion layer 150, the
second color conversion layer 160, and the transmission layer 170
may be formed in respective spaces defined by the first partition
wall 140. The layers 150, 160 and 170 may collectively be referred
to as a color-conversion layer.
In an embodiment, the first color conversion layer 150 may be
formed in the first pixel area PA1 by coating a first quantum
dot-photoresist material on the substrate 110 and performing
patterning of the first quantum dot-photoresist material. The
second color conversion layer 160 may be formed in the second pixel
area PA2 by coating a second quantum dot-photoresist material on
the substrate 110 and performing patterning of the second quantum
dot-photoresist material. The transmission layer 170 may be formed
in the third pixel area PA3 by coating a third photoresist material
on the substrate 110 and performing patterning of the third
photoresist material. An order of forming the first and second
color conversion layers 150 and 160 and the transmission layer 170
is not limited thereto.
In another embodiment, the first color conversion layer 150, the
second color conversion layer 160, and the transmission layer 170
may be formed by using inkjet coating where a material (e.g., ink)
is deposited on the substrate 110 at a respective space in the
first partition wall 140. A height of the first partition wall 140
may be designed so that when the first color conversion layer 150,
the second color conversion layer 160, and the transmission layer
170 are formed by using inkjet coating, a material for forming each
of the first color conversion layer 150, the second color
conversion layer 160, and the transmission layer 170 does not flow
to an adjacent pixel area. Since the first color conversion layer
150, the second color conversion layer 160, and the transmission
layer 170 are formed by using inkjet coating, a photo process may
not be added, manufacturing costs may be reduced, and a process may
be simplified.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an
embodiment of a display apparatus 10 according to the
invention.
Referring to FIG. 6, the display apparatus 10 may include a display
panel 400 and the color filter 100. A filling layer 500 may be
further provided between the display panel 400 and the color filter
100. The filling layer 500 may be an air layer or an insulating
layer including a transparent material. The filling layer 500 may
planarize a surface of the color filter 100 which faces the display
panel 400.
The display panel 400 may include first through third pixels PX1,
PX2, and PX3. The first pixel PX1 may include a (first)
light-emitting device 430 and a first pixel circuit 420a for
controlling the (first) light-emitting device 430, the second pixel
PX2 may include a (second) light-emitting device 430 and a second
pixel circuit 420b for controlling the (second) light-emitting
device 430, and the third pixel PX3 may include a (third)
light-emitting device 430 and a third pixel circuit 420c for
controlling the (third) light-emitting device 430.
Each light-emitting device 430 may be an organic light-emitting
device ("OLED"). The light-emitting device 430 may emit the light
Lb of the third color, for example, blue light Lb, of which an
amount thereof is controlled by each of the first through third
pixel circuits 420a, 420b, and 420c. The light-emitting devices 430
may be located to correspond to the pixel areas PA of the color
filter 100. The first through third pixel circuits 420a, 420b, and
420c may be located in a pixel circuit layer 420 located under the
light-emitting devices 430, and may at least partially overlap or
may not overlap the light-emitting devices 430.
The color filter 100 may emit outward the light Lr of the first
color and the light Lg of the second color after converting colors
of a portion of the light Lb of the third color emitted from the
light-emitting devices 430, and may emit outward a portion of the
light Lb of the third color without color conversion.
A substrate 410 may include or be formed of a material such as
glass, a metal, or an organic material.
The first through third pixel circuits 420a, 420b, and 420c of the
first through third pixels PX1, PX2, and PX3, respectively, may be
located on the substrate 410. Each of the first through third pixel
circuits 420a, 420b, and 420c may include a plurality of thin-film
transistors ("TFTs") and at least one capacitor. Conductive signal
lines and conductive power lines for transmitting signals and a
driving voltage, respectively, applied to the first through third
pixels PX1, PX2, and PX3 in addition to the first through third
pixel circuits 420a, 420b, and 420c may be located in the pixel
circuit layer 420.
The light-emitting device 430 of the first pixel PX1 may be located
to correspond to the first pixel area PA1 of the color filter 100.
The light-emitting device 430 of the second pixel PX2 may be
located to correspond to the second pixel area PA2 of the color
filter 100. The light-emitting device 430 of the third pixel PX3
may be located to correspond to the third pixel area PA3 of the
color filter 100.
Each of the TFTs as a switching element may include a semiconductor
layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode.
The semiconductor layer may include amorphous silicon or
polycrystalline silicon. The semiconductor layer may include an
oxide semiconductor. The semiconductor layer may include a source
region, a drain region, and a channel region between the source
region and the drain region.
The light-emitting devices 430 may be provided on the pixel circuit
layer 420. Each of the light-emitting devices 430 may include a
pixel electrode 431, an intermediate layer 433, and a counter
electrode 435.
The pixel electrode 431 may be connected to the source electrode or
the drain electrode of the TFT. The pixel electrode 431 may be
exposed through an opening of a pixel-defining film 437, and an
edge of the pixel electrode 431 may be covered by the
pixel-defining film 437.
The intermediate layer 433 may be located on a portion of the pixel
electrode 431 exposed at an opening defined in the pixel-defining
film 437. The intermediate layer 433 may include an organic
emission layer, and the organic emission layer may include or be
formed of a relatively low-molecular-weight organic material or a
relatively high-molecular-weight organic material. The intermediate
layer 433 may further selectively include functional layers such as
a hole transport layer ("HTL"), a hole injection layer ("HIL"), an
electron transport layer ("ETL"), and an electron injection layer
("EIL") in addition to the organic emission layer.
The counter electrode 435 may be located to commonly cover the
intermediate layer 433 and the pixel-defining film 437. The counter
electrode 435 may include a transparent or semi-transparent
electrode. In an embodiment, for example, the counter electrode 435
may include or be formed of a metal thin film having a relatively
small work function. The counter electrode 435 may include a
transparent conductive material layer including or formed of
transparent conductive oxide ("TCO").
A thin-film encapsulation layer 440 may be located on the
light-emitting devices 430. The thin-film encapsulation layer 440
may cover the counter electrode 435 and may be located completely
over an entirety of the substrate 410. The thin-film encapsulation
layer 440 may include an inorganic material encapsulation layer
formed of at least one inorganic material and an organic material
encapsulation layer including at least one organic material. In an
embodiment, the thin-film encapsulation layer 440 may have a
structure in which a first inorganic material encapsulation layer,
an organic material encapsulation layer, and a second inorganic
encapsulation layer are stacked.
The color filter 100 may include the substrate 110, the
light-shielding layer 120, and the first partition wall 140 for
partitioning the first through third pixel areas PA1, PA2, and PA3
for different colors, and the first through third color filter
layers 130a, 130b, and 130c for selectively transmitting different
colors.
The first color conversion layer 150 for converting the blue light
Lb into the red light Lr may be located in the first pixel area
PA1, the second color conversion layer 160 for converting the blue
light Lb into the green light Lg may be located in the second pixel
area PA2, and the transmission layer 170 for transmitting the blue
light Lb may be located in the third pixel area PA3.
The light Lb of the third color emitted from the light-emitting
device 430 controlled by the first pixel circuit 420a of the first
pixel PX1 is converted into the light Lr of the first color by the
first color conversion layer 150 and is emitted outward from the
display apparatus 10 through the substrate 110. The light Lb of the
third color emitted from the light-emitting device 430 controlled
by the second pixel circuit 420b of the second pixel PX2 is
converted into the light Lg of the second color by the second color
conversion layer 160 and is emitted outward from the display
apparatus 10 through the substrate 110. The light Lb of the third
color emitted from the light-emitting device 430 controlled by the
third pixel circuit 420c of the third pixel PX3 is emitted outward
from the display apparatus 10 through the substrate 110 without
color conversion by the transmission layer 170.
The blue light Lb emitted from the display panel 400 is incident on
the color filter 100 and is converted into the red light Lr, the
green light Lg, and the blue light Lb, to display a color
image.
Since color mixing is reduced or effectively prevented by blocking
light introduced between adjacent transmission layers and adjacent
color conversion layers due to the first partition wall 140, color
matching and color reproducibility may be improved, light
efficiency may be improved, and thus power consumption may be
reduced.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of
another embodiment of a display apparatus 20 according to the
invention.
Referring to FIG. 7, the display apparatus 20 may include the
display panel 400 and a color filter 100a. The display apparatus 20
of FIG. 7 is different from the display apparatus 10 of FIG. 6 in
that a first partition wall 140a extends to a top surface of the
thin-film encapsulation layer 440 and through the filling layer 500
to space apart portions thereof. The same element as that described
with reference to FIG. 6 will not be described.
A total height (thickness) T2 of the first partition wall 140a may
be greater or less than a sum of a height (thickness) T21 of each
of the first color conversion layer 150, the second color
conversion layer 160, and the transmission layer 170 and a
thickness T22 of the filling layer 500. In an embodiment, the total
height (thickness) T2 of the first partition wall 140a may be equal
to or less than a sum of the height (thickness) T21 and the height
(thickness) T22. The thickness T22 of the filling layer 500 may be
a distance respectively between a top surface of each of the first
color conversion layer 150, the second color conversion layer 160,
and the transmission layer 170, and a top surface of the thin-film
encapsulation layer 440.
The first partition wall 140a may be located between adjacent color
conversion layers and transmission layers, respectively, and may
block light introduced between the adjacent color conversion layers
and transmission layers. Also, since the first partition wall 140a
partitions the first through third pixel areas PA, PA2, and PA3 at
the filling layer 500, the first partition wall 140a may reduce or
effectively prevent a portion Lp of light emitted from the
light-emitting device 430 in one pixel area from being transmitted
through the filling layer 500 and being incident on a color
conversion layer or a transmission layer of an adjacent pixel area.
Accordingly, color mixing between pixel areas may be blocked, color
matching and color reproducibility may be improved, light
efficiency may be improved, and thus power consumption may be
reduced.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of still
another embodiment of a display apparatus 30 according to the
invention.
Referring to FIG. 8, the display apparatus 30 may include a display
panel 400a and the color filter 100. The display apparatus 30 of
FIG. 8 is different from the display apparatus 10 of FIG. 6 in that
a second partition wall 450 is provided on the thin-film
encapsulation layer 440. The same element as that described with
reference to FIG. 6 will not be described. For convenience of
description, the second partition wall 450 may be considered a
portion of the display panel 400a, or a portion of the display
apparatus 30 which is separate from each of the color filter 100
and the display panel 400a of the display apparatus 30.
The display apparatus 30 may include the first partition wall 140
of the color filter 100 and the second partition wall 450 located
on the thin-film encapsulation layer 440. The first partition wall
140 and the second partition wall 450 may be located to correspond
to the light-shielding area BA.
Since the first partition wall 140 is located between color
conversion layers and transmission layers, respectively, the first
partition wall 140 may reduce or effectively prevent color mixing
by blocking light introduced between the color conversion layers
and the transmission layers.
Since the second partition wall 450 partitions the first through
third pixel areas PA1, PA2, and PA3 at the filling layer 500, the
second partition wall 450 may reduce or effectively prevent a
portion Lp of light emitted (Lb+Lp) from the light-emitting device
430 of one pixel area from passing through the thin-film
encapsulation layer 440 and the filling layer 500 and being
incident on a color conversion layer or a transmission layer of an
adjacent pixel area. Light emitted at a relatively high angle, for
example, an angle of about 60.degree. to about 80.degree., relative
to a top surface of the substrate 410 from among light emitted by
the light-emitting device 430 of one pixel area may pass through
the thin-film encapsulation layer 440 and the filling layer 500 and
may be incident on a color conversion layer and/or a transmission
layer of an adjacent pixel area. The second partition wall 450 may
absorb, reflect, and/or scatter light of a relatively high-angle
component of the light-emitting device 430 and may reduce or
effectively prevent the light from being incident on a color
conversion layer and/or a transmission layer of an adjacent pixel
area. Accordingly, color mixing between pixel areas may be reduced
or effectively prevented, color matching and color reproducibility
may be improved, light efficiency may be improved, and thus power
consumption may be reduced.
The second partition wall 450 may include a material that absorbs
at least a portion of light incident thereto, a light reflecting
material, or a light scattering material. The second partition wall
450 may include a black matrix. The second partition wall 450 may
include an opaque inorganic insulating material such as CrOx or
MoOx or an opaque organic insulating material such as black resin.
The second partition wall 450 may include a layer having a
relatively high light reflectance, for example, a metal layer. The
metal layer may be a layer including or formed of silver (Ag),
magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), gold
(Au), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), iridium (Ir), chromium (Cr), an
alloy thereof, or a compound thereof. In an embodiment, for
example, the second partition wall 450 may include a layer
including or formed of Ag. The second partition wall 450 may have a
multi-layer structure in which a plurality of layers are
continuously stacked. At least one of the continuously stacked
layers may include a metal layer. In an embodiment, for example,
the second partition wall 450 may include a transparent metal oxide
material layer such as an indium tin oxide ("ITO") layer and an Ag
layer. In an embodiment, the second partition wall 450 may include
a first transparent metal oxide material layer, an Ag layer, and a
second transparent metal oxide material layer that are continuously
stacked. In an embodiment of manufacturing a display apparatus, the
second partition wall 450 may be formed by forming a partition
wall-forming material on the thin-film encapsulation layer 440 and
performing patterning of the partition wall-forming material.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of yet
another embodiment of a display apparatus 40 according to another
embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 9, the display apparatus 40 may include the
display panel 400a and a color filter 100b. The display apparatus
40 of FIG. 9 is different from the display apparatus 30 of FIG. 8
in that a first partition wall 140b and the second partition wall
450 contact each other. The same element as that described with
reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 will not be described.
The display apparatus 40 may include the first partition wall 140b
of the color filter 100b and the second partition wall 450 located
on the thin-film encapsulation layer 440. The first partition wall
140b and the second partition wall 450 may be located to correspond
to the light-shielding area BA.
The first partition wall 140b may have a height (thickness) large
enough to contact the second partition wall 450 provided on a top
surface of the thin-film encapsulation layer 440. A total height
(thickness) of the first partition wall 140b may be less than a sum
of a respective height (thickness) of each of the first color
conversion layer 150, the second color conversion layer 160, and
the transmission layer 170, and a thickness of the filling layer
500. A thickness of the filling layer 500 may be a distance
respective between a top surface of each of the first color
conversion layer 150, the second color conversion layer 160, and
the transmission layer 170, and the top surface of the thin-film
encapsulation layer 440.
The first partition wall 140b may be located between color
conversion layers and transmission layers, respectively, and may
reduce or effectively prevent color mixing by blocking light
introduced between the color conversion layers and the transmission
layers. Also, since the first partition wall 140b partitions the
first through third pixel areas PA1, PA2, and PA3 at the filling
layer 500 along with the second partition wall 450, the first
partition wall 140b may reduce or effectively prevent a portion Lp
of light emitted (Lb+Lp) from the light-emitting device 430 at one
pixel area from passing through the filling layer 500 and being
incident on a color conversion layer or a transmission layer of an
adjacent pixel area.
Accordingly, color mixing between pixel areas may be reduced or
effectively prevented, color matching and color reproducibility may
be improved, light efficiency may be improved, and thus power
consumption may be reduced.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of yet
another embodiment of a display apparatus 50 according to the
invention.
Referring to FIG. 10, the display apparatus 50 may include the
display panel 400a and a color filter 100c. The display apparatus
50 of FIG. 10 is different from the display apparatus 30 of FIG. 8
in that only the second partition wall 450 is provided among
portions of a partition wall (400+450) provided in the display
apparatus 30 of FIG. 8. The same element as that described with
reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 will not be described.
The color filter 100c may include the light-shielding layer 120 for
partitioning the first through third pixel areas PA1, PA2, and PA3
for different colors and the first through third color filter
layers 130a, 130b, and 130c for selectively transmitting different
colors. The color filter 100c is an example obtained by omitting
the first partition wall 140 of FIG. 6. The color filter 100c may
further include the planarization layer 190 located on the first
and second color conversion layers 150 and 160 and the transmission
layer 170 and having a flat top surface. The planarization layer
190 and the filling layer 500 may together define a planarizing
layer which is common to the color filter 100c and the display
panel 400a.
The display apparatus 50 may include the second partition wall 450
located on the thin-film encapsulation layer 440. The second
partition wall 450 may be located to correspond to the
light-shielding area BA. Since the second partition wall 450
partitions the first through the third pixel areas PA1, PA2, and
PA3 at the filling layer 500, the second partition wall 450 may
reduce or effectively prevent a portion Lp of light emitted (Lb+Lp)
from the light-emitting device 430 at one pixel area from passing
through the filling layer 500 and being incident on a color
conversion layer or a transmission layer of an adjacent pixel area.
Accordingly, color mixing between pixel areas may be reduced or
effectively prevented, color matching and color reproducibility may
be improved, light efficiency may be improved, and thus power
consumption may be reduced.
Since in a conventional color filter, the color conversion layer
does not transmit a portion of light emitted from a light source,
like a color filter, and generates light having a different
wavelength from the light emitted from the light source, light
emitted from the color conversion layer is emitted in various
directions. Also, a portion of the light emitted from the light
source may pass through the color conversion layer without being
converted. Accordingly, light of a first color emitted from one
color conversion layer, light of a second color emitted by a color
conversion layer adjacent to the one color conversion layer, or
light of a third color emitted from the light source may be
undesirably mixed, thereby leading to color mixing. As a result,
color reproducibility may be reduced.
Display apparatuses according to one or more embodiment may include
a first partition wall that is located in a light-shielding area
respectively between color conversion layers and transmission
layers of a color filter, and functions as a first blocking member
for blocking light introduced between color conversion layers and
transmission layers of adjacent pixel areas. The display
apparatuses according to one or more embodiment may include a
second partition wall that is located on a thin-film encapsulation
layer of a display panel corresponding to the light-shielding area
and the first partition wall, and functions a second blocking
member for blocking light introduced from light-emitting devices of
adjacent pixel areas. The display apparatuses according to one or
more embodiment may reduce or effectively prevent color mixing
between adjacent pixel areas by including at least one of the first
partition wall and the second partition wall. Color matching, color
reproducibility, and light efficiency of light emitted through the
display apparatuses may be controlled by adjusting at least one of
a thickness of the first partition wall and/or a thickness of the
second partition wall, and the density of a scattering material
and/or a reflective material.
According to various embodiments, since color mixing between
adjacent pixels may be reduced or effectively prevented due to a
partition wall respectively between adjacent color conversion
layers and transmission layers and/or a partition wall on a
thin-film encapsulation layer, a display apparatus having a
relatively simple structure and improved color reproducibility may
be provided.
While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to
the figures, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art that various changes in form and details may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the
following claims.
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